What's the deal with the Rhino Roach?

[stronin]

I've been shopping online and came across a $500 roach, why is it so expensive? What makes it be so much money?

VIA: http://shop.bugsincyberspace.com/Macropanesthia-rhinoceros-Rhino-Roach-Pair-bic236.htm

 

[Doc]

They are very very slow growing, very rare, and require specific care needs. This roach species is the heaviest in the world and can live for 10+ years.

 

[Hisserdude]

It is the "Holy grail" of roaches. They are huge, and take over 5 years to reach adulthood. They are easy to keep, you just have to give them dead hardwood leaves in their diet and the nymphs need shallow substrate or else they molt badly. The females only produce up to 12 nymphs a litter, and will only give birth once every other year, and they usually only give birth once! So it takes a really long time to get a nice sized population going, and people rarely want to part with any. That $500 listing is for a sexed pair, and it's a pretty reasonable price for this species.

 

[Sleepy Lemur]

Not to mention they are native to Australia, which means they cannot be imported.

 

[Forcep]

It also depends on local availability. In Australia those are sold in much lower price; the price in Europe is higher, but still not as expensive as they're in the US.

 

[Allpet Roaches]

People from Australia have posted saying they're actually very expensive in their home country.

 

[Forcep]

People from Australia have posted saying they're actually very expensive in their home country.

At least AU insect farm have them labeled as $85 for 3 nymphs here.

http://www.insectfarm.com.au/pets.php

Well, I understand if people think that's very expensive for cockroaches

 

[Allpet Roaches]

The posts I've read were about paying a few hundred for adults in Australian pet shops (rather than mail-order). You'd think they could just take a drive and collect some.